Extension-cord retainer for sewing machines



P 1930. c. E. COLEGROVE 1,754,160

EXTENSION CORD RETAINER FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed May 21, 1928 Patented Apr. 8, L939 stares. earner entice CHARLES E. COLEGROVE, OF LAKEWOOD, OHIO, ASSIGNOR T WHITE SEWING MA- CHINE CQRIPOR-ATICQN, 0F CLEVELAND,

OHlIQ, CORPORATION OF DELAWARE EXTENSION-CORD RETAINER FOR SEWING MACHINES Application filed May 21,

This invention relates to an extension cord retainer for electrically-operated devices and has particular utility in connection with an electrically-operated sewing machine.

In electrically-operated devices as, for example, an electrically-operated sewing ma chine, no means have heretofore been provided for conveniently disposing of the extension cord when the device is not in use and has been disconnected from the source of current supply. In electric sewing machines the extension cord when disconnected from the current supply, has simply been placed in a drawer or other part of the machine, or has been disposed of in some other place, which practice has not only been inconvenient to the user of the machine but has resulted in the cord becoming tangled or misplaced.

An object of the present invention is to provide a retainer for the extension cord of an electrically-operated device such as an electric sewing machine, which may be conveniently arranged upon the device or machine so as to readily receive the extension cord thereof when not in use.

Another object is to provide such a retainer which may be readily exposed for the reception of the cord and then moved to a concealed position while the device or machine is not in use and which will not interfere with the operation thereof.

Additional objects and advantages will become apparent as the detailed description of an embodiment of the invention proceeds.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an electrically-operated sewing machine and cabinet therefor;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view of the interior of a portion of the sewing machine cabinet; and

Fig. 3 is a sectional View through the cabinet taken approximately on line 3-3 of Figs. 1 and 2.

The sewing machine may be of any wellknown type the head of which is either stationary, or pivoted to swing down during non-use into the cabinet of the machine, although as shown in the drawing the machine is of the type in which the head is adapted to 1928. Serial No. 279,455.

be swung down during non-use into the body of the cabinet. It should be understood, however, that this type of machine is shown for purposes of illustration only and that the head might be rigid with the upper side of the cabinet and enclosed during non-use by a. separate cover member.

The cabinet comprises the usual supporting legs .10 upon which is arranged the cabinet proper formed of side panels 11, end panels 12 and a top panel 18. The sewing machine head, indicated generally at 14:, is pivoted along its rear side upon hinges 15 to the top panel of the cabinet and is adapted to be swung down into the cabinet when a hinged flap portion 16 of the top panel is moved to a posit-ion permitting of such movement. An electric motor 17 may be mounted on the sewing machine head, arm, or otherwise, as desired, and serves as a driving medium for the machine. The power which operates this niotor is furnished by the usual lighting circuit of the building in which the machine is located, being connected thereto from a. sui able connecting plug by means of the cxtension cord 18 which is detachably or permanently connected at 19 tothe wiring circuit of the machine.

Although not forming a part of the present invention it should be stated that preferably a suitable rheostat is arranged in the machine between the connection 19 and the connection 20 from which the circuit leads to the motor, such rheostat, of course, being for the purpose of stepping down the ordinary 110 volt or 220 volt lighting circuit.

When the machine is not in use. and the extension cord 18 is disconnected from the terminal at the power circuit end thereof, it is desirable that some convenient means be available upon which such cord might be wound or reeled so that it will be unnecessary to store the cord in a drawer or other place of the cabinet. For this purpose a device is provided which might be termed a swinging reel, such device being pivotally mounted upon the inner side of either one of the side panels 11, but preferably upon the panel at the rear of the machine adjacent towhich the cord is attached. This ,so called swinging reel may be made of wire, sheet metal or other suitable material, and comprises a main portion 21 extending longitudinally of the machine and having reversely bent portions 22 at its opposite ends, which portions are, themselves,

reversely bent as indicated at 23 and termi nate in parallel arm portions 24 extending spaced relationship upon the'interior of the panel 11 and adjacent its lower edge.

It will thus be seen that the swinging reel may be moved so as to lie outwardly of the cabinet in the manner shown in Fig. 1 and in the dotted lines in Figs. 2 and 3, or it may be swung so as to lie interiorly of the cabinet as indicated in the full line positions of Figs. 2 and 3. However, some means must be provided for maintaining the swinging reel in either of these twopositions and for thispurpose one of the arms 25 is provided with a crank 27 having one end of a coil spring 28 attached thereto, the other end of said spring beingsecured to the panel 11 at a point 29 which is located upwardly from the attaching points of the brackets 26. In this manner the swinging reel will be held by spring tension in two positions since when thecrank passes over the center in either direction, the coil spring will tend to maintain the same in such position and, in turn, will hold the reel in its corresponding position. Of course, other types of springs and'other means for maintaining the reel in either of its positions might be employed and the invention, therefore, is not limited to the exact form shown and described. The extension cord 18 may be conveniently wound upon the reel, the convolutions of the cord being received in the notches at the opposite ends of the reel formed by the reversely bent portions 22 and 23 thereof. After the cord has been wound upon the reel it is simply necessary to give a slightmovement to the reel until it passes over the center whereupon it will be moved to 3 its innermost position within the cabinet by Y 1. In: combination with an electrically-op- I erated sewing machine adapted to beconnected to a power circuit by an extension cord and the cabinet therefor, a retalner member for said cord when the same is dlsconnected from the circuit, said retaining member being movable to either an exposed or concealed position with respect to the cabinet.

2. In combination with an electrically-operated sewing machine adapted to be connected to a power circuit by an extension cord and the cabinet therefor, a retaining member for said cord when the same is disconnected from the circuit, said member being pivotally mounted upon a portion of the sewin machine cabinet so as to be capable of being swung to a concealed or to an exposed position.

3. A retaining member for an extension cord of an electrically-operated device com prising a swinging element adapted to be pivotaly connected. to a portion of said device and having portions thereof formed to receive the extension cord when the same is not in use, and another portion adapted to be connected to means for maintaining said element in a plurality of different positions.

4. A retaining member for the extension cord of an electrically-operateddevice comprising an element adapted to be swingably associated with the device, said element having a main portion provided at its opposite ends with reversely bent portions adapted to receive the wound cord and attaching portions one of which is provided with a crank, and a spring connected to said crank andto said device for maintaining said element in a plurality of different positions.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto affix my signature.

CHARLES E. COLEGROVE. 

